SEASIDE HEIGHTS — The state of Joyce and Michael Curcio’s borough home is outlined on a piece of paper hanging on their front door.

When superstorm Sandy slammed into the Jersey Shore, the hurricane compromised the foundation of the Curcios’ Hiering Avenue bungalow. In response, borough officials posted the orange notice stuck on the front door that deemed their home structurally unsafe.

Any homeowner with the notice initially had until Nov. 30 — about three weeks after residents could return to the battered borough — to decide if they would demolish or repair their home.

Borough officials decided Monday to give those residents until Dec. 30, a date Mayor William Akers and at least one resident feel is more realistic.

“I know everybody’s going through different levels of pain and frustration,” said Joyce Curcio, 59. “It’s not animosity, just a little hurt that they did that.”

After an orange notice went up, the homeowners received notice by mail. That’s how the Curcios learned their foundation had been compromised and if they didn’t take action by the deadline, they could face prosecution or $2,000 per week fines, she said.

Having an extra month gives the couple more time to clear the boats that floated into their yard, bring in Federal Emergency Management Agency and insurance representatives that have been busy, and determine whether their house is worth saving, Curcio said.

Residents have until the new deadline to have a private engineer file a report of their intentions for the home, Akers said. Borough officials will have to approve the plan, he said.

The borough’s building department deemed at least 10 homes, mostly on Sampson and Hiering avenues, unsafe, Akers said. State inspectors are expected to come to Seaside Heights on Monday to assess every home in the borough, which could increase the number of unsafe structures, he said.

The state requires a deadline be set for structures deemed unsafe to be fixed or torn down, Akers said. It’s a safety issue for the people who live in the residence and for people in the area, he said.

Homeowners with orange notices are not supposed to enter their residence, but Akers said some people have anyway.

Joyce and her husband, Michael Curcio, 62, only peeked in their house through the back door.

They hope to save their home, and appreciate more time to try, Joyce Curcio said.